Ruling-machine.



S.VH. COBB. RuuNGMAcHlNE.

APELICATON FILED OCT. 4| |913. I 1,206,989. Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

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S. H. COBB.

RULING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4. I9I3.

1 ,206,989. Patented Dec. 5, I9I6.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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RULING MACHINE.

APPLICATION msn ocr. 4. |913.

1 ,206,989 Patented Dec. 5, l9l6.

Zvveeee.' TIR/@TJOT/ Q2/M y?? c. @www SYLVANUS H. COBB, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

RULIN'G-TAGHINE.

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Application led October 4, 1913.

Be it known that I, SYLvAxUs H. COBB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Ruling-ldachine, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention concerns ruling ma chines, and more especially that type in which the pens or other ruling devices are electromechanically actuated. Its chief objects are to apply to the ruling devices. with the interposition of few moving parts, forces acting to vary the relation of the ruling devices to the work, and to so control such application that the time of ruling contact is as brief or as long as desired. Moreover, this control may be exercised over the ruling devices individually or in groups, which may readily be altered to meet the requirements of any particular form to be ruled. Both the actuation of the ruling devices and their control is effected noiselessly.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 being a. side elevation, parts being broken away; Fie'. 2 a transverse section on the line of Fig. 1, with parts omitted; Fig. 3 an enlarged broken section through the contact wheel on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 an enlarged side elevation of the contact brushes and their support; Fig. 5 a transverse section on the line 5 5 of Fig. Lt; Fig. 6 an enlarged broken perspective view of a penactuating unit and two of the sockets therefor, the parts being separated; and FiO'. 7 a diagram of the electrical circuit for the machine.

Supported on a frame 10 are the usual feed-rolls 11. 11, which, with a belt 12 operating over the lower roll and a roll (not shown) at the opposite extremity of the frame, feed the sheets to be ruled over a table 13 through the machine. Power may be applied te one of the feed-roll shafts from any convenient source, these shafts. being connected to rotate in opposite directions byv gears 11n.

Adjacent to the table 13 is a beam 14: pivotally mounted upon adjustable standards 15 and carrying pens or other ruling devices 16. The pen-beam and its supports may be of the well-known flexible form, and need not be here described. The pens resemble those customarily employed, except that they are preferably each' provided with Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

Serial No. 793,497.

means, as an opening or eye furnished by hook 17, by which they may be connected to the actuating means to be later described. i screw 1S carried by the beam and contactmg with a bracket 19 from one of the standards 15 allows the angular adjustment of the beam with relation to the work, the screw beingdrawn normally against the bracket by the spring 2O extending between the beam and frame.

The standards 15 are shown as having upward extensions 21 furnished at their inner sides with brackets 22, of which three are illust 'ated upon each standard. Movable upon the upper face of each bracket is a. block 23 of :insulating material, the pairs of blocks situated at the same level being joined by shelves or supports 24 which are in the form of angle-beams. At the side of the machine opposite that at which the operator stands the blocks 23 are guided by spindles 25 projecting horizontally from them through openings in the standard. At the other side, or toward the operator, there are sockets in the outer faces of the blocks to receive the enlarged ends of screws 26 threaded through the standard and preferably retained in place by lock-nuts 27. This manner of mounting the shelves enables them to be adjusted laterally of the machine, or longitudinally of the series of pens.

Fixed to the top of each shelf or support is a strip 28, preferably molded from fiber or other insulating material, of comb-like form with separated projections 29 having overhanging portions 30 furnishing sockets located above the pcnsbeam to receive electromagnetic actuating devices for the pens. These devices are in the form of interchangeable units, any one of which may be applied to any socket for the operation of any pen. Each device, as illustrated, comprises a conducting base or plate 31 of such dimensions as to fit within the sockets, and having secured to it an electromagnet of the returnspole type comprising a yoke 32 consisting of a horizontal member lying between the portions 30 of the socket-strip and carrying a magnet spool and core 33, and a vertical member upon the upper extremity of which is pivoted the armaturelever 34. At the inner side of the magnet, or opposite the vertical member of the yoke, an insulated block 35 is fixed to the base, having in conductive connection a soldering lug 3G and a rounded terminal 37. One end Vis inserted in a socket the terminal 37 is engaged by a spring terminal 39 attached to the socket-strip 28 and having a soldering lug L t0 for connection with the conductors of a cable.

The outer end of each armature lever -i is bifurcated at il and in the separated arms are depressions 4Q to receive a rounded supporting and adjusting nut a3. Through this nut passes a screw or spindle Llei, which may be locked by a nut 45 and retained against upward movement by a nut l-G below the lever. This furnishes an adjusting device which is freely separable from the armature through the opening at al. kt the lower extremity of the screw is an eye i7 to receive a flexible tension member --LS, preferably furnished by a wire which is secured to the eye i7 and is twisted at its lower end into an eve at 49 for engagement with the hook 17 of a pen. 1t will be evident that when one of the electromagnetic units is in place in a socket and is energized, the outer end of the lever 3e is raised by the resulting attraction of the armature, and the pen to which the wire is attached is lifted, said pen yielding at its shank to permit this. Vhen the magnet is denergized the spring of the shank returns the pen into contact with the work. The normal tension of the wire may be adjusted by means of the nuts 43, 45 and 46, so that when no current flows through the magnet the pen `will rest' on the belt or sheets to be ruled, yet tire lifting effect may be exerted without lost motion. The sockets for the magnets are so placed that pens in close proximity to one another may be independently operated, the arrangement' in plural tiers giving an opportunity for the placing of the relatively wide actuating units above the narrow pens. Tt is, of course, desirable that the'pull on the pens shall be substantially vertical, or die* rectly away from the work. This may be obtained by an adjustment of the supporting shelves Qfi by means of their' scrcwsQ/G.

Tt may sometimes happen that a movement of all the pens of the series must be simultaneously effected, and to this end means is provided for rocking the entire beam on its standard. Projecting rearwardly from one end of the beam is an arm 50 which may have an adjustable connection 5l to the beam found in ruling devices of the cam-operatedtype. This arm carries an armature 52 of an electromagnet 53 supported on the frame, which magnet exercises such an attractive force that upon its energization the beam will be rocked on its pivots against the tension of the spring 20 and all the pens raised. from the work.

To determine the application of current to the magnets, which current may flow from a generator 5st belted to one of the shafts of the machine or from any other suitable source of electrical energy, means is interposed between said source and the magnets, furnishing a common currentdistributing means for the latter; and since even in the most complicated forms the movement of many of the pens is the same, the controlling means is arranged to act on the eiectromagnets in groups. From the frame at the rear of the ruling and actuating devices rise standards 55 in which is journaled a shaft Rotation is imparted to this shaft through a gear 56 fixed thereto and meshing with a large idle gear 57 cooperating in turn with the lower feed-roll gear llk The gear 57 is mounted on a stud 58 adjustable along' a segmental slot in an arm depending from the frame, said slot having the center of the lower gear 111L as an axis. rhe speed of rotation of the shaft with respect to the feed elements may be lhanged' by substituting gears 56 of different diameters and correspondingly shifting the gear 57. Carried by the shaft are the rotatable elements of a number controlling v.

of pen-controlling conta ct devices, said number depending upon the distinct groupmovements the pens are to receive. Each rotatable elementv consists of a wheel 60 fixed to the shaft and having atone side of its periphery a circumferential recess (il and in the same side toward the center of the wheel an adjacent concentric circumferential recess 62. Tn the latter recess is'secured by screws 63 a ring 6a of insulating material. the periphery of said ring lying farther from the shaft than the edge of the wheel. In the recess 6l, which with the ring (Si forms a channel, metal contact blocks or segments G5 are situated projecting just outside the ring, which blocks may conveniently be in pairs side by side, clamped in place by the ring and movable with respect to one another so the extent of contact surface can be varied. il single block 6G of double thickness of the desired extent may instead be employed.

Vith each wheel 60 coperates a normally stationary element of the contact device. This is preferably supported on the shaft 55a by means of an arm G7 extending from a hub G8r embracing the shaft. it the outer extremity of the arm is a flange 69 overhanging the periphery of the wheel. At the rearward edge of the flange is secured a holder 70 between the separated sides of which is pivoted a nut 71. A screw 72,mounted to turn in bracket 73 carried by a bridge-piece 7a between standards 75, 75 rising from the frame of the machine, engages the nut and holds the arm 67 against rotation, the angular position of the arm being adjustable by turning the screw. Near the forward edge 'of the liangevis fixed an insulating block 7G from which projects a brush-support 77. Two of these brushes or contact-projections are shown, one` 7S, being merely pivoted on the support in a holder 7!) and pressed by a spring S0 against the insulatingring 63 or against the contact blocks G5 and 60. depending upon the position of thc wheel G0. The holder 79 of the other brush S1 is pivoted under the iniuence oit a second spring S0 upon a slide 62, adjustable circumferentially of the wheel in ways in the support 77 by a screw S3 rotatable in an arm Si of the support and threaded through the slide. At any convenient point on the support may be secured a soldering lug :tor connecting the two brushes in parallel to the circuit. Considering the contact wheels as rotatable in the direction ot' the arrow in Fig. 1, it appears that the brush 78 will first be engaged by the contact blocks and lifted from the insulating` ring to close the circuit at this point, and that thereafter said block leaves the brush Sl to again open the circuit. In a preliminary way this connection may be controlled by positioning the blocks in their channel before the machine is started, but thereafter at any time in the operation it the timing is not correct, the brushes may readily be moved together by the screw 72 until the making ot' the contact is as desired, and then the brush 81 further adjusted by the screw 83 to give the precise time ot breaking the contact. l

An electromechanically controlled gate it'or governing the delivery of the sheets to be ruled to the pens is also preferably provided. This gate comprises a shat't SG journaled in the standards and having along it holders 87 in which gate-iingers 88 are fastened by set-screws 89. l? rom an arm 90 on the shaft SG a. spring 0l extends to the frame, to draw the fingers against the feed-belt. To raise the gate t'or the purpose of releasing a sheet, an arm 901L carries an armature 91a of an electromagnet 99', which is supported upon the frame and supplied with current at the proper time. through a cm'rent-controlling device such as has just been described.

The circuit for connecting the pen-beam and gate-actuating devices and the controlling devices is illustrated in Fig. 7. Mounted on the frame convenient to the operator is a switchboard 3, which may be of the telegraph pattern, having vertical bars 94- of which there should be one for every actuating device socket and one each for the beam and gate-magnets, and intersecting` horizontal bars 95, one for each controlling device. these bars being separated and insulated from one another. Openings flo in both sets of bars allow any bar 9-it to be connected to any bar 95 by means et' plugs 07. One pole oit the generator 5l, the other pole of which may be grounded upon the trame, is joined by conductor 98 and its multiple branches to the shelves B-l. and so to those terminals olf all the l1iagnet-windings which arc united to the lugs 538. The other terminals of the magnets, through the lugs 3G, are separately joined by conductors 99 contained in cables l0!) supported on the staiulard-extensions il to the bars Q-Ll. The bars U5 arc respectively connected to the brush-pairs of the controlling devices through the lugs and conductors 101 t'ormed in a cable 102 carried by the standards 75, the contact blocks (35 and (it) being in conductive connection with ground through the \\'heel GO and so with the grounded pole of the generator.

ln using the apparatus the pens are adjusted in their beam in the customary manner. one tor each line to be ruled, Over cach pen which is to have an indepeinlent litt an actuating unit is inserted in the socket which is vertically alined with the pen. the act ot insertion oil'ecting connection ot' the magnet-coils ot the units with their switch-bars Sl-l. The loops ot the unit wires in) are caught into the pen-hooks 17. and the nuts on the spindles Jf-'lA are adjusted to give the proper tension. A contact-wheel (i0 is selected for each `group o'l movements in which a plurality oit' pens are to share, and the contact-blocks therein adjusted to give approximately the desired litt and release ot' the pelis in correct timing. The actuating units may then be grouped in circuit with the brushes o't the respective wheels bv placing plugs Q7 in the openings 96 ot the switchboard to join the switchbars fl-iot' the actuating units to the switchbars 95 ot' the proper controlling units. The gate-magnet 92 is connected through the switchboard with its contact wheel or may be directly placed in circuit therewith; it there is to be a simultaneous lift ot all the pens the beam-magnet 5?) is also brought into plav. The machine is then started, and it the lifting and striking points o't the pens are. not perfect, these may be separately adj usted for the pen-magnets and beam-maguet by turning the screws 72 and S3 until theI errors are corrected, it being unnecessarv to stop thc apparatusl to do this. The th'ning ot the gate may be similarly controllcd.

ln addition to the ease with which my improved machine may be set and operated to correctly rule intricate forms, it will be observed that no lift-.otl the. pens nor break in the ruled lines is too brief for it to accomplish with precision. F or this purpose the contact-ends oi. the brushes 78 and S1 may bo brought into suoli close proximity Cil that they furnish a continuous, narrow contact-surface, and the contact-block of the wheel may be made of as limited extent as desired. Then, since the .electromagnetic action is, in effect, instantaneous for a suitable quicleacting magnet, and as the inertia ofthe moving parts is slight, the returnof the pen to the sheet may occur immediately upon its removal therefrom.

l claim as my invention:

l. The combination with a plurality of ruling devices, of plural electromechanisms each adapted to actuatel a ruling device, a source of current, and means common to different electromechanisms for controlling the application of current thereto.

Q. A, ruling machine comprising a series of ruling devices, electromechanical means for imparting independent movement to each of a plurality of the ruling devices of the series, and independent electromechaniial means for simultaneously imparting movement to all the ruling devices of the series.

2l. The combination with a plurality of ruling devices, of plural electromechanisms each adapted to actuate a ruling device. a source of current, and common controlling means for different electromechanisms,said controlling means having elements for determining the application of current to the electromechanisms in groups.

l A ruling machine comprising a series of ruling devices, an electromechanism individual to each of a plurality of ruling devices for moving the same, means for controlling the energization of said electromechanisms in groups, and a separate electromechanism act-ing on a plurality of the groups.

5. A ruling machine comprising a series of ruling devices, an electromechanism individual to each of a plurality of ruling cle-- vices for moving` the same, means for controlling the energization of said electromechanisms in groups, and means for con necting any of the electromechanisms to any of the group-controlling means.

A ruling machine comprising a. series of ruling devices, an electromechanism individual to each of a plurality of ruling devices for moving the same, means for con trolling the energization of said electromechanisms in groups, and a switchboard to which both the electromechanisms and group-controlling means are connected.

7. The combination with a plurality of ruling devices, of an electromechanism for actuating each ruling device, each actuating mechanism being usable interchangeably with various ruling devices.

8. In a. ruling machine, a beam, a flexible pen held ixedly in the beam, an electro magnet and its armature, and a connecting member attached to the armature and pen and acting to flex the pen in the beam upon movement of the armature.

9. rlhe combination with a ruling device,

of a support in which a portion of the device is held fixedly, an electromagnet and. its armature situated above the ruling device, and a connecting member loosely supported upon the armature and engaging a portion of the ruling device projecting from the support.

l0. The combination with a ruling device, of an clectromagnet and its armature, an adjusting device carried by the armature and being` freely separable therefrom, and a connection between the adjusting and ruling devices.

ll. ln a ruling machine, a pen, a belt traveling beneath the pen and with which it contacts, an electromechanism mounted above the pen, and a. iieXible connecting member between the electromechanism and pen for lifting said pen from the belt.

l2. The combination with a ruling device, of an electromagnet and its armature situated above the ruling device, a nut resting on the armature, and a` connecting member threaded through the nut and engaging the ruling device.

13. ln a ruling machine, a pen, a belt traveling beneath the pen and with which it contacts, an electromechanism mounted above the pen, and a. flexible connectingV member between the electromechanism and pen for lifting said pen from the belt, said connecting member being separable from the electromechanism by merely lifting it from enga gement therewith.

el. The combination with a ruling device, of an actuating lever therefor, a nut restA ing on the lever, and a. connecting member threaded through the nut and engaging the ruling device.

15. rlhe combination with a ruling device, of an actuating lever therefor, a nut resting on the lever, a` member threaded through the nut, and a flexible member connecting the threaded member and ruling device.

16. The combination with a ruling device, of a lifting lever therefor, a screw extending through the lever, and a connection between ythe extremity of the screw and ruling device.

17. In a ruling machine, a beam, a clamp carried thereby, a series of pens ixed between the clamp and the beam, an electromechanism, and means depending from the electromeclianism for engaging' one of the pens.

1S. In aV ruling` machine, a beam, a clamp carried thereby, a series of pens iXed between the clamp and the beam, an electromechanism, and a flexible connection loetween the electromechanism and one of the pens.

19. In a ruling machine, the combination with a beam, of a series of pens fixed therein, a plurality of electromechanisms, connections between certain of the electromechanisms and certain of the pens, and means for variably controlling the electromechanisms.

QO. The combination with ruling devices, of a support provided with sockets, and an electromechanical actuating device for the ruling devices adapted to coperate with any one ot a plurality of sockets.

21'. The combination with a ruling device. cfa support provided with a socket, and an electromechanical' actuating device for the ruling device coperating with the socket, said actuating' device and socket having cooperating contact terminals.

Q2. The combination with a ruling device, oil a support provided with a socket.y and an electromechanical actuating device 'for the ruling device cooperating with the socket, said actuating device and socket having cooperating' contact terminals adapted to engage one another to retain the actuating device in its socket.

23. In a ruling machine, ruling devices, a plate, a `strip of insulating material secured to the plate and having recesses, and electromechanical actuating devices 'for the ruling devices adapted to enter the recesses.

A. In a ruling machine, ruling devices, a conducting plate, insulating material secured to the plate and having` recesses, a terminal carried by the insulating material, a conductive base adapted to enter the recesses, an insulated terminal on the base adapted to engage that on the insulating` material, an electromagnet mounted on the base and having its winding connected to said base and to the insulated terminal thereon, and a source oi electrical energy joined to the plate and its insulated terminal.

25. The combination with a series of ruling devices, of a support, actuating means for the ruling devices mounted on the support, and means :t'or varying the position ot' the support longitudinally ot the series ot ruling devices.

26. The combination with a series of ruling devices, of supports situated in different vertical positions, actuating means for the ruling devices mounted on each support, and means for varying the position of each support longitudinally of the series ol ruling devices.

27. The combination with a series of ruling devices, of a trame, a support movable on the trame and extending longitudinally of the series oit ruling devices, actuating means for the ruling devices mounted on the support, and a screw adjustably connecting the frame and support.

28. In a ruling machine, a ruling device,

controlling means therefor comprising an actuating member and contact portions cooperating therewith and being movable with respect to one another to vary the timing of the machine, and means for moving said portions during the operation of the machine.

2f). A ruling device, actuating means therefor, and controlling means for the actuating means, said controlling means consisting of a rotatable and a non-rotatable member, the latter having portions movable with respect to one another to vary the time ot cooperation ot the members.

30. A ruling device, actuating means therefor, a rotatable controlling member for the actuating means having a contact portion, a cooperating member provided with separated contact projections, and means it'or varying the distance between said projections.

31. In a ruling machine, a ruling device, electromechanical actuating means therefor, a source of electrical energy, and a controlling device interposd between the actuating means and source and including a rotatable Contact meinber, contact members cooperating therewith, and means for varying the position of the last-named Contact members about the rotatable member.

32. In a ruling machine, a ruling device, clectromechanical actuating means theretoi, a source of electrical energy, and a controlling device interposed between the actuating means and source and including a contact-wheel, brushes engaging the wheel, and means tor varying the position of the brushes about the wheel.

33. In a ruling machine, a ruling device, electromechanical actuating means therefor, a source of electrical energy, and a controlling device interposed between the actuating means and source and including a contact-wheel, brushes engaging the Wheel, and means 'for varying the distance between the brushes.

In a ruling machine, a ruling device, electromechanical actuating means therefor, a source of electrical energy, and a controlling device interposed between the actuating means and source and including a. contact-wheel, brushes engaging the wheel, means for varying the position o't' the brushes about the wheel, and means for varying the distance between the brushes.

35. The combination with ruling pens, of a controlling device comprising a contactwheel, a support, and brushes mounted on the support and engaging the wheel, one of the brushes being movable on the support circumferentially of the wheel.

36. In a ruling machine, pens, and controlling means therefor comprising a shaft, a. contact-wheel movable by the shaft, a support mounted on the shaft, and a contact memberV carried by the support and cooperating with the Wheel.

37. In a ruling machine, pens, and controlling Ameans therefor comprising a shaft, a contact-Wheel movable by the shaft, a support mounted on the shaft, means for varying the angular position of the support about thev shaft, and a Contact member carried b y the support and coperating with the Wheel.

38. In a ruling machine, pens, and controlling means therefor comprising a shaft, a. contact-Wheel movable by the shaft, a support mounted on the shaft and carrying contact-brushes, a nut pivoted on the support, a bearing fixed relatively to the. 1wheel, and screw mounted to turn in the bearing and engaging the nut.

39. ln a ruling machine, pens, and controlling means therefor comprising a con tact-Jvheel, a support adjacent thereto, tivo brushes mounted` on the support, and means for moving one of the brushes on the support circumferentially of the Wheel.

40. In a ruling machine, pens, and controlling means therefor comprising a contact-Wheel, a. support adjacent thereto, a brush carried by the support, a second support movable on that first-named., and a brush carried by the second support.

41. The combination With ruling devices, of plural receiving means, and au electromechanical actuating device for the ruling devices adapted to cooperate with any one of a plurality of receiving means.

42. In a ruling machine, a support, a ieXible pen mounted thereon, an electromagnet and its armature, and means connecting the armature and pen whereby the pen may be flexed to render it ineffective While the support remains` stationary.

e3. In a ruling machine, a support, a

flexible pen mounted thereon, an electromagnet and its armature, means connecting the armature and pen whereby the pen may be flexed While the support remains station'- ary, and means Vindependent of the penflexing means for moving the support.

elet. In a ruling machine, a Work-support, a liexible pen normally cooperating With said support, a support in ivhich the pen is mounted, an electromagnet and its armature, and means connecting the armature and pen whereby the pen may be flexed to move it from the Work-support.

ln a ruling machine, a plurality of ruling devices, a. plurality of actuating means for said ruling devices, a plurality of controlling means for the actuating means, and means for connecting any actuating means with any controlling means.

46. In a ruling machine, a plurality of ruling devices, a plurality of actuating means for said ruling devices, a plurality of controlling meansfor the actuating means, and means for connecting a plurality of actuating means to a single controlling means. Y

Signed at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, this 3rd (lay of October, 1913.

SYLVANUS H. COBB.

Witnesses ELIZABETH A. HILL, .latins E. LYNCH.

Copiesrof this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

